Sweeping machine



Dec. 14-, 1965 KAAR ETAL 3,222,706;

SWEEPING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l I w W YNVENTORSKENNETH B. KAAR GUY E. CQONS, DECEASED BY,SYLVIA IRENE COONS, EXECUTRIXBY'OLSEN mo STEPHENSON ATTORNEYS Dec. 14, 1965 K. B. KAAR ETAL 3,222,706

SWEEPING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E42. ZE=EINVENTORS KENNETH B. KAAR GUY E. COONS, DECEASED BY, SYLVIA IRENECOONS,EXECUTRIX OLSEN AND gjglgkl EgSON Dec. 14, 1965 K. B. KAAR ETAL3,222,706

SWEEPING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 15 EJ; SE17 f T T T235 20 J 8 I 25\222 /2,30 l

m T X INVENTORS KENNETH a. KAAR GUY E. COONS, DECEASED SYLVIA IRENECOONS, EXECUTRIX I30 BY OLSEN AND sTgiztlgbggm United States PatentSWEEPING MACHINE Kenneth B. Kaar, Lincoln, Nebia, and Guy E. Coons, de-

ceased, late of Lincoln, Nehru, by Sylvia Irene Coons, executrix,Lincoln, Nehru, assignors to Sweep-All Company, lino, Lincoln, Nehru, acorporation of Nebraska Filed Apr. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 187,136 2 Claims.(Cl. 15-340) The present invention relates to mobile sweeping apparatusadapted to be moved over a surface such as a street, a parking area, asidewalk, an airfield runway, or a factory or similar floor, forremoving coarse trash such as pieces of paper, wood, metal, etc, as wellas fine dirt and sand and similar material.

Sweeping apparatus presently in common use is ineffective in picking upboth coarse and fine material and is generally objectionable because ofthe clouds of dust and the like which are created by use of theapparatus. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide anim* proved sweeping machine which is operable to remove both fine dustand larger trash from a surface to be cleaned.

A further object of this invention is to provide sweeping apparatuswhich includes vacuum means for removing and collecting dirt and sandfrom the surface to be cleaned and impeller means which operates toremove larger trash from the surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide sweeper apparatus whichincludes an improved vacuum and dirt collection assembly that cooperateswith a sweeper brush to insure cleaning of dirt from the surface beingcleaned.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a sweepingmachine with .a rotatable brush and impeller assembly which provides forremoval of trash from the surface being cleaned.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sweeping machine havingseparate collection receptacles for trash and dirt which are arranged sothat the trash and dirt are readily removed therefrom.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sweeping machinewhich is readily movable from one location to another.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the sweeping machine of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a foreshortened vertical sectional view of a portion of themachine of this invention, showing the trash collecting receptacle incondition for receiving trash;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the front end portion of thesweeping machine of this invention, showing the trash receivingreceptacle in a position having the front end thereof open so that thetrash therein is removed from the receptacle;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the rear wheel supportingstructure in the sweeping machine of this invention, showing the wheelsupporting structure in an upwardly moved position corresponding to asurface engaging position of the brush in the sweeper machine;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the wheel supporting structure,illustrated similarly to FIG. 4, showing the structure in a downwardlymoved position corresponding to a raised position of the brush in thesweeping machine of this invention;

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FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view of the sweeping machine of thisinvention; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system in the sweepermachine of this invention.

With reference to the drawing, the sweeping machine of this invention,indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 asincluding a main frame 12, which is formed of upright side frame members14 rigidly connected by a top frame unit 16, a pair of front wheels 18,and a pair of rear wheels 20. An elongated brush 22 extends transverselyof the main frame 12 between the frame side members 14 and is fixed on ashaft 24 which is rotatably supported on the frame side members 14. Animpeller 26 includes a shaft 28 which is rotatably supported on the mainframe side members 14 at a position forwardly of the brush 22. Theimpeller 26 also includes flexible vanes or blades 30 which are securedto the shaft 28 by .angle members 32.

A trash receiving receptacle 34 is positioned between the main frameside members 14 and supported on the main frame 12 at a positionforwardly of the impeller 26. The receptacle 34 includes a bottom Wall36 and has an open rear side 38. The front side 40 of the receptacle 34is closable by a front door 42 which is secured to a trash removal orpusher member 44 which is positioned at the top of the receptacle 34 inthe closed position of the door 42 illustrated in FIG. 2. The front door42 and the pusher member 44 are mounted on a frame assembly 46 which ispivotally supported on a shaft 48 carried by frame members 50 mounted onthe main frame 12. A pair of hydraulic cylinder assemblies 52, mountedon the main frame 12 at positions outwardly of the side frame members 14are connected by pivot pins 54 to the frame assembly 46 and are operableon extension, to rotate the front door 42 and the pusher member 44substantially 90 from their positions shown in FIG. 2 to their positionsshown in FIG. 3 in which the front door 42 is substantially horizontaland projects forwardly from the sweeper machine 10. During suchmovement, the pusher member 44 is moved forwardly through the receptacle34 so that a flexible lip 56 on the pusher member 44 moves forwardlyalong the receptacle bottom wall 36 so as to push any trash in thereceptacle 34 forwardly there of and out the front end 40 thereof.

A housing 58, having a curved top wall 60, side walls 62, and uprightend walls 64 and 66, is supported on the main frame top unit 16. Anupright hollow duct 68 communicates at its top end 70 with the interiorof the housing 58 and has its bottom end 72 positioned adjacent adeflector 74 which is mounted on the main frame 12 and positionedadjacent the periphery of the brush 22 adjacent the top and front sidesof the brush. The deflector 74 is connected to a curved wall or shieldunit 76 positioned closely adjacent the top and rear sides of the brush22. The wall member 76 cooperates with the main frame 12 to form adownwardly opening chamber 78 on the main frame 12 which opensdownwardly and communicates with the duct 68 for a purpose to appearpresently. As shown in FIG. 2, the brush 22 is positioned in the chamber78.

A hollow filter sleeve 80 is mounted on a framework 82 positioned in thehousing 58. The sleeve 80 is constructed of filter paper, or othersimilar disposable material, and the framework 82 consists of crossframe members 84 secured to a hollow hub 86 and having wire or the like85 mounted thereon so as to form an open body of a shape correspondingto the desired shape of the filter sleeve 80. As shown in FIG. 2, thesleeve 80 is of generally egg shape for a purpose to appear presently.One end of the framework 82 carries a cover plate 88 (FIG. 1) which isof a shape to cover an opening 90 in the housing end wall 66. Inmounting the filter sleeve 80 in the housing 58, the hub 86 is supportedon a rod 92 carried by the housing end wall 64 and the sleeve 80 ismoved toward the end wall 64 until the adjacent end of the sleeve 80engages the end wall 64. In this position of the sleeve 80, the coverplate 88 closes the housing opening 90.

A flexible hose 94, connected to the end cover plate 88 so as tocommunicate with the interior of the hollow filter sleeve 80, isconnected to the inlet 96 for a suction fan or blower unit 98 having anexhaust pipe 100. The unit 98 is mounted on the top side of the mainframe 12 adjacent the rear end thereof as shown in FIG. 1.

It can thus be seen that on operation of the blower unit 98, air isdrawn into the housing 58 from the chamber 78 through the duct 68. Thisair travels through the filter sleeve 80 and the flexible hose 94 to theblower unit 98, so that any dirt in the air drawn out of the chamber 78is filtered out of the air and deposited on the sleeve 80. A dirtcollecting pan 102 projects into the housing 58 and is slidablysupported on the main frame top unit 16 at a position below the filtersleeve 80 so that dirt on the sleeve 80 will drop downwardly onto thepan 102 which can then be removed to remove the dirt from the housing58. The egg-shape of the filter sleeve 80, so that its upper end is ofreduced size, facilitates the dropping of dirt therefrom into the pan102, and if desired, additional structure, such as a vibrator (notshown) may be provided for agitating the sleeve 80 so as to furtherinsure the removal of dirt therefrom for deposit in the pan 102. Toprevent the suction of trash out of the receptacle 34 through the openrear side 38 thereof, flexible tubes 104, only one of which is shown,are connected to and extended between the housing 58 and the pushermember 44 so as to provide for substantial equilization of air pressuresin all parts of the receptacle 34.

An engine 106 is mounted on the main frame 12 at a position to one sideof the blower unit 98 (FIG. 6) and has a drive shaft 108 which isbelt-connected to a pair of pumps 110 and 112 which are also mounted onthe main frame 12. As shown in FIG. 6, a belt and pulley assembly 114extends between a hydraulic motor 116 driven by the pump 110 and theblower 98 for driving the blower 98.

The pump 112 supplies fluid to a sweeper propelling motor 118 which ismounted on a frame member 120 and connected by chains 122 to the rearwheels 20 for driving the machine 10. The rear wheels 20 are mounted onan axle 124 which is rotatably supported on a frame member 120 which isin turn supported at its rear end on a pivot 126 carried by the mainframe 12. The front end of the frame member 120 is connected by a pin128 to the lower end of the piston rod 130 for a hydraulic cylinderassembly 132 which is pivotally supported at its upper end on a pin 134carried by the main frame 12. As shown in FIG. 5, when the cylinderassembly 132 is supplied with fluid so as to move the piston rod 130downwardly, the frame member 120 is swung downwardly and rearwardlyabout the pivot 126 to thereby move the rear end of the main frame 12upwardly. Such movement of the main frame 12 effects a lifting of thebrush 22 to a position above the ground surface so that the machine vcan be more readily transported.

The hydraulic control circuit for the machine 10 is shown in FIG. 7. Asshown therein, pumps 110 and 112 are driven by the motor 106 and areconnected on their inlet sides by conduits 136 and 138, respectively, toa reservoir or tank 140. The tank 140 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 mountedon the main frame 12 at a position between the housing 58 and the blower98. The conduits, such as the conduits 136 and 138, which connect thehydraulic components in the control circuit shown in FIG. 7, are notshown in FIGS. 1-6, inclusive, for purposes of clarity. As shown in FIG.7, the hydraulic control circuit for the machine 10 consists of asweeping circuit 142 having the pump therein, and a propulsion circuit144 having the pump 112 therein, and the circuits are interconnected ina manner to be presently described. In the sweeping circuit 142, thepump 110 supplies fluid to a conduit 146 which has a pressure reliefvalve 148 therein and is connected to a manual two-position controlvalve 150.

In the position of the control valve 150 shown in FIG. 7, fluid from theconduit 146 flows through a by-pass passage 152 in the valve 150 andinto a conduit 154 which connects to the propulsion circuit 144. In asecond position of the valve 150, fluid from the conduit 146 travelsthrough a passage 156 in the valve 150 into a conduit 158 which isconnected to a second control valve 160 which is likewise movablebetween two positions. In the position of the control valve 160 shown inFIG. 7, fluid from the conduit 158 travels through a by-pass passage 162in the valve 160 and flows into a conduit 164. In the second position ofthe valve 160, fluid from the line 158 travels through a valve passage166 and flows into a conduit 168 which supplies fluid to a pair of speedcontrol valves 170 and 172. The valve 170 is connected to a hydraulicmotor 174, hereinafter referred to as the brush motor, which drives asprocket 176 (FIG. 1). A chain 178 is trained about the sprocket 176, asprocket 180 secured to the impeller shaft 28, an idler sprocket 182mounted on one of the main frame side members 14, and a sprocket 184secured to the shaft 24 for the brush 22. Thus, on a supply of fluid tothe hydraulic motor 174, the brush 22 and the impeller 26 are rotatedclockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 2. Thespeed control valve 172 is connected to the blower motor 116. In thesecond position of the valve member 160, a passage 186 therein connectsa discharge conduit 188 for the motors 174 and 116 to the conduit 164which is connected to a two-position valve 190. The valve 190 controlsthe supply of fluid to a pair of motors 192 and 194 which drive a pairof gutter sweepers 196 and 198 mounted on the main frame side members 14so as to sweep areas to opposite sides of the machine 10 and direct thetrash and dirt on opposite sides into the path of the impeller 26 andthe brush 22. Each of the motors 192 and 194 is mounted on a bracketsecured to a side frame member 14.

In the position of the valve 190 illustrated in FIG. 7, fluid from theconduit 164 flows through a valve passage 200, through the motors 192and 194 and returns through a valve passage 202 for flow into a conduit204. In the second position of the valve 190, a by-pass passage 206 inthe valve connects the conduits 164 and 204. The conduit 204 suppliesfluid to a three-position valve 208 which controls the supply of fluidto the hydraulic cylinder assemblies 52 which actuate the front door 42and the pusher member 44 for the trash receptacle 34. Only one cylinder52 is indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 7 but it is to be understoodthat the cylinders 52 are connected in parallel, in a well-known manner,so that they operate in unison. In the neutral position of the valve 208shown in FIG. 7 the conduit 204 connects to a valve by-pass passage 210so that fluid flows through the passage 210 into a conduit 212. In asecond, or receptacle dumping position of the valve 208, fluid from theconduit 204 flows through a valve passage 214 into a conduit 215connected to the cylinder assemblies 52 so as to extend the piston rodstherefor, and fluid flows out of the cylinder assemblies 52 through aline 216 for flow through the valve passage 218 into the conduit 212. Inthe third position, or receptacle closing position of the valve 208,fluid from the conduit 204 flows through a valve passage 220 into thecylinder assemblies 52 so as to retract the piston rods and out of thecylinder assemblies through the line 215 for flow through a valvepassage 222 into the conduit 212.

The conduit 212 is connected to a three-position control valve 224 whichcontrols the supply of fluid to the brush lift cylinder assembly 132. Inthe neutral position of the valve 224 illustrated in FIG. 7, fluid flowsthrough a valve by-pass passage 226 into a conduit 228 so that thecylinder assembly 132 is not actuated. In a second or brush liftingposition of the valve 224, fluid from the conduit 212 flows through avalve passage 230 into a conduit 232 so as to supply fluid to thecylinder assembly 132 so as to extend the piston rod 130 to thereby liftthe brush 22. Fluid flows out of the cylinder assembly 132 through aconduit 235 and a valve passage 234 into the conduit 228. In a third orbrush lowering position of the valve 224, fluid from the conduit 212flows through a valve passage 236 into the conduit 235 so as to retractthe piston rod 130 and lower the brush 22. Fluid flows out of thecylinder assembly 132 through the line 232 and the valve passage 238into the conduit 228. The conduit 228 connects to a conduit 240 having afilter 242 and a check valve 244 connected in parallel therein andconnected to the tank 140 so as to return fluid theret0.

The propulsion circuit 144 has the pump 112 therein connected to aconduit 243 which has a pressure relief valve 245 therein and isconnected to a manual speed control valve 246. The valve 246 has twooutlet connections, one of which is connected to a conduit 248 whichempties into the tank 140 and the other one of which is connected to aconduit 250 which is connected to a manual control valve 252. Adjustmentof the manual control for the valve 246 regulates the proportion offluid discharge from the valve 246 which flows, respectively, into theconduits 248 and 250.

In the neutral position of the valve 252 shown in FIG. 7, a valveby-pass passage 256 connects the conduit 250 with a conduit 254connected to the return conduit 240. In a machine forward position ofthe valve 252, passages 258 and 260 therein connect conduits 262 and 264connected to the machine propulsion motor 118 so as to drive the motor118 in a direction to move the machine forwardly. In a machine reverseposition of the valve 252, passages 266 and 268 therein are connected tothe conduits 264 and 262, respectively, so as to provide for operationof the motor 118 to move the machine 10 in a reverse direction.

In the operation of the machine 10, the operator stands on a platform270 (FIGS. 1 and 6) positioned at the rear end of the main frame 12. Ifdesired, a seat may be provided on or adjacent the platform 270. Theoperator steers the machine 10 by manipulating a pivoted control rod 272(FIG. 6) which is connected in a well known manner by a steering linkageassembly 274 to the machine front wheels 18. During transport of themachine 270, the manual valve 224 is first moved to the brush liftingposition in which the valve passages 230 and 234 connect the conduit 212with the conduit 232 and the conduit 228 with the conduit 235 so thatthe hydraulic cylinder assembly 132 is extended to lift the brush 22 toa position above the surface on which the ground wheels 18 and 20 aretraveling. The valve 224 is then moved to its neutral position shown inFIG. 7 to maintain the brush in its upper position. The manual valve 252is moved between forward and reverse positions depending on thedirection in which the machine 10 is to be moved and the valve 246 ismanipulated to provide the desired speed of the machine 10. Duringtransport of the machine 10, the valve 150 is moved to the positionshown in FIG. 7 to divert fluid from the sweeping circuit 142 to thepropulsion circuit 144 to provide additional fluid for the circuit 144and thereby make it possible to move the machine 10 at higher rates ofspeed.

When the machine 10 has been moved to the surface which it is desired toclean, the valve 224 is moved to the brush lowering position in whichthe valve passage 236 connects the conduits 212 and 235 and the valvepassage 238 connects the conduits 228 and 232 to thereby effect aretraction of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 132 to its position shownin FIG. 4 in which position the brush 22 is engageable with the surfaceto be cleaned. The valve is moved to a position in which the valvepassage 156 connects the conduits 146 and 158 so that the sweepingcircuit 142 is operable and is disconnected from the propulsion circuit144. The valve 160 is moved to a position in which the valve passage 166connects the conduits 158 and 168 to provide for a supply of fluid tothe blower motor 116 and the brush motor 174. During operation of themotor 116, the blower unit 98 operates to produce a suction in the duct68 so that air is drawn out of the chamber 78 into the housing 58,through the filter sleeve 80 and the flexible hose 94 into the blowerunit 98. Also, at such time the chain 178 is driven to provide for arotation of the brush 22 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2and to provide for a rotation of the impeller 26 in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 2. The valves 246 and 252 are thenmanipulated to provide for a forward movement of the machine 10 over thesurface to be cleaned. During such movement, the impeller 26 contactsany large pieces of trash, such as discarded cigarette packages andboxes, pieces of wood, pieces of metal, etc., and throws each piece oftrash upwardly and rearwardly toward the rotating brush 22. On contactwith the brush 22, the trash thrown up by the impeller 26 is thrown bythe brush 22 into the open rear end of the receptacle 34 so that itaccumulates in the receptacle 34. The deflector 74 prevents any of thetrash thrown up by the impeller 26 from being thrown over the top sideof the brush 22.

The rotating brush 22 picks up fine particles of dirt and sand and thismaterial on the brush 22 is drawn off the brush by the suction in thechamber 78 created by the upward flow of air in the conduit 68. Inaddition the lower end 72 of the duct 68 is located relative to thebrush 22 such that the dirt and sand on the surface being cleaned isthrown upwardly by the brush 22 toward the lower end of the duct 68.Consequently, dust picked up by the brush 22 is mixed with the air beingdrawn upwardly in the conduit 68 so that the dust is carried upwardlyinto the housing 58 and accumulates on the filter sleeve 80.Accordingly, only filtered air travels out of the housing 58 through theflexible hose 94, and the dirt on the filter sleeve 80 falls off thesleeve into the dirt collection pan 102. The substantially egg-shape ofthe fil-ter sleeve 80 provides a filter sleeve having a top surface,from which it is more difficult to remove the dust, of minimum size.Consequently, the shape of the filter sleeve 80 contributes to theefficient discharge of dust therefrom into the pan 102. The hoses 104between the housing 58 and the trash receptacle 34 provide for anequalization of pressures in the receptacle 34 to prevent trash frombeing drawn out of the receptacle 34 into the chamber 78. By virtue ofthe cooperative action of the impeller 26 and the brush 22, and theimplementing action of the vacuum chamber 78, an efllcient and thoroughcleaning of the surface to be cleaned is effected.

In the event gutters or areas close to building walls and the like areto be cleaned, the valve is moved to its position shown in FIG. 7 toprovide for operation of the gutter sweepers 196 and 198 which aremounted on opposite sides of the main frame 12 so that they can movethrough a gutter or a surface adjacent a building wall without having tomove the machine 10 dangerously close to the wall.

When the dust collection pan 102 becomes filled with dust, it is readilyremoved from the housing 58 by sliding it outwardly on the top frameunit 16. After dumping of its contents, the pan 102 is replaced. Whenthe filter sleeve 80 becomes clogged with dust particles, it is readilyremoved and replaced by merely removing the supporting framework 82 fromthe housing 58. To remove trash from the receptacle 34, the operatormoves the valve 208 from its neutral position shown in FIG. 7 to itslift position in which the valve passage 214 connects the conduit 204with the hydraulic cylinder assemblies 52 so as to extend the pistonrods in the assemblies 52. Extension of the piston rods provides for anupwardly pivotal movement of the supporting framework 46 so that thetrash receptacle front door 42 is moved upwardly to its position shownin FIG. 3 and the trash pusher member 44 is swung in a clockwisedirection about the pivot 48 from its position shown in FIG. 2 to itsposition shown in FIG. 3. The lip 56 on the pusher member 44 movesforwardly across the receptacle bottom wall 36 to push all the trash inthe receptacle out the front end 40 thereof. The trash may be dumpedeither in a trash collection area or into another container which isused to transport the trash to a collection area.

From the above description it is seen that this invention provides asweeping machine which, by virtue of the vacuum action of the machine 10and the cooperative action of the impeller 26 and the brush 22, isoperable to remove both fine dust and larger trash from a surface to becleaned. By virtue of the replaceable filter sleeve 80, the vacuumsystem is readily maintained in an efficient condition. Furthermore, thecontents of the machine 10 can readily be removed for dumping. By virtueof the arrangement of the circuits 142 and 144 shown in FIG. 7, themachine 10 may readily be transported at higher speeds to the desiredpoint of use.

It will be understood that the sweeping machine which is hereindisclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation andillustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention,the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sweeping machine having a main frame which has ground wheelsproviding for movement of said machine over a surface, means on saidmain frame forming a chamber intermediate the ends of said main frame, abrush rotatably mounted on said main frame and disposed in said chamber,suction means on said main frame disposed above said chamber andcommunicating therewith for removing dirt from said brush and saidchamber, removable filter means operatively associated with said suctionmeans for collecting dirt removed from said brush and chamber, meanspivotally supporting at least one of the ground wheels on said mainframe, power means on said main frame connected to said wheel supportingmeans for moving at least one of said whee-ls up and down to move saidbrush between a surface engaging position and a position spaced abovesaid surface, an impeller rotatably mounted on said main frame at aposition forwardly of said brush for impelling trash into the path ofsaid brush, guard means mounted on said main frame and projecting intosaid chamber at a position adjacent the front and top sides of saidbrush for deflecting trash impelled toward the top side of said brush bysaid impeller, a trash collecting receptacle on said main frame havingan open rear side disposed above said impeller and located so that trashimpelled into the path of said brush is thrown into said receptaclethrough the open rear side thereof, said receptacle having a front doorand a pusher member connected thereto which extends rearwardly from saidfront door, means pivotally mounting said door and pusher member forrotation about a substantially horizontal axis disposed above saidreceptacle, and means for rotating said door and pusher member in adirection to move said door away from the front end of said receptacleand move said pusher member forwardly through said receptacle to movetrash therein out the front end thereof.

2. In a sweeping machine having a main frame provided with front andrear ground wheels, a brush rotatably mounted on said main frame, animpeller rotatably mounted on said main frame at a position forwardly ofsaid brush for impelling trash into the path of said brush, firsthydraulic motor means for driving said brush and said impeller, a trashreceptacle on said main frame having an open end positioned so thattrash impelled into the path of said brush is thrown by the brush intosaid receptacle through the open end thereof, a trash removal membermounted for movement through said receptacle so as to remove trashtherefrom, second hydraulic motor means for moving said trash removalmember, third hydraulic motor means for moving some of said groundwheels vertically relative to others of said ground wheels for raisingand lowering said brush, fourth hydraulic motor means for driving saidground wheels, engine means on said main frame, first pump meansarranged in a driven relation with said engine and connected in a firsthydraulic circuit with said first, second and third motor means, secondpump means arranged in a driven relation with said engine and connectedin second hydraulic circuit with said fourth motor means, conduit meansconnecting said first and second circuits, and manually operable valvemeans in said conduit means operable in one position to direct fluidfrom said first pump means to said second circuit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 574,850 1/ 1897Carrier. 2,300,280 10/ 1942 Teager. 2,484,491 10/ 1949 Daugherty.2,663,045 12/1953 Conway 15354 X 2,682,153 6/1954 Fink 280--43.23 X2,739,340 3/1956 Blydenburgh et al. 15340 X 2,789,067 4/1957 Link 1583 X2,833,116 5/1958 Rush. 2,913,744 11/1959 Gregersen 15340 X 3,087,1794/1963 Talboys 1555 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,455 2/ 1938 Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner.

1. IN A SWEEPING MACHINE HAVING A FRAME WHICH HAS GROUND WHEELSPROVIDING FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID MACHINE OVER A SURFACE, MEANS ON SAIDMAIN FRAME FORMING A CHAMBER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID MAIN FRAME, ABRUSH ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME AND DISPOSED IN SAID CHAMBER,SUCTION MEANS ON SAID MAIN FRAME DISPOSED ABOVE SAID CHAMBER ANDCOMMUNICATING THEREWITH FOR REMOVING DIRT FROM SAID BRUSH AND SAIDCHAMBER, REMOVABLE FILTER MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SUCTIONMEANS FOR COLLECTING DIRT REMOVED FROM SAID BRUSH AND CHAMBER, MEANSPIVOTALLY SUPPORTING AT LEAST ONE OF THE GROUND WHEELS ON SAID MAINFRAME, POWER MEANS ON SAID MAIN FRAME CONNECTED TO SAID WHEEL SUPPORTINGMEANS FOR MOVING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WHEELS UP AND DOWN TO MOVE SAIDBRUSH BETWEEN A SURFACE ENGAGING POSITION AND A POSITION SPACED ABOVESAID SURFACE, AN IMPELLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME AT APOSITION FORWARDLY OF SAID BRUSH FOR IMPELLING TRASH INTO THE PTH OFSAID BRUSH, GUARD MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME AND PROJECTING INTOSAID CHAMBER AT A POSITION ADJACENT THE FRONT AND TOP SIDES OF SAIDBRUSH FOR DEFLECTING TRASH IMPELLED TOWARED THE TOP SIDE OF SAID BRUSHBY THE SAID IMPELLER, A TRASH COLLECTING RECEPTACLE ON SAID MAIN FRAMEHAVING AN OPEN REAR SIDE DISPOSED ABOVE SAID IMPELLER AND LOCATED SOTHAT TRASH IMPELLED INTO THE PATH OF SAID BRUSH IS THROWN INTO SAIDRECEPTACLE THROUGH THE OPEN REAR SIDE THEREOF, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING AFRONT DOOR AND A PUSHER MEMBER CONNECTED THERETO WHICH EXTENDSREARWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT DOOR, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID DOOR ANDPUSHER MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXISDISPOSED ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DOOR ANDPUSHER MEMBER IN A DIRECTION TO MOVE SAID DOOR AWAY FROM THE FRONT ENDOF SAID RECEPTACLE AND MOVE SAID PUSHER MEMBER FORWARDLY THROUGH SAIDRECEPTCLE TO MOVE TRASH THEREIN OUT THE FRONT END THEREOF.